§ 34. Mr. Mappasked the Minister of Transport if he will state the total number of traffic examiners of the licensing authorities, the number of silent checks they have made in respect of goods vehicles over a recent representative period; and what is the proportion of checks to the approximate total goods vehicle journeys over the same period.
§ Mr. GalbraithThere are about 140 examiners on enforcement work at any one time. Accurate figures of silent checks are not available but the number of vehicles checked is of the order of 100,000 a year. This gives a ratio of one check per 6,000 vehicle-journeys but the odds that an offender will be caught are for various reasons a good deal shorter than this.
§ Mr. MappDoes not it occur to the Minister that the extent of enforcement is infinitesimal and that it is quite clear that some further administrative action is necessary in the light of what is now 1276 called the "cowboy faction" on the periphery of road transport? Will he consider examining the current log books of operators over a more recent period—because this is the way in which, as those with knowledge are aware, facts may be ascertained on which action can be taken—rather than concentrating on alleged silent checks?
§ Mr. GalbraithI will consider what the hon. Member has said. The number of examiners has kept pace with the increase in the number of vehicles.